ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer said yesterday it?s not a mission impossible for six Filipino fighters to sweep their assignments against Mexican opponents in Golden Boy?s World Cup at the Arco Arena in Sacramento this morning (Manila time).
But whatever the final tally, Aldeguer predicted a rousing victory for the Philippines over Mexico to claim the $500,000 diamond-studded trophy symbolic of a nation?s supremacy in pro boxing.
Mexico took the first-ever World Cup by beating Thailand in four world title fights and five of six overall in Arizona two years ago.
Regardless of the outcome, Golden Boy matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz will accompany the Filipino fighters back to Manila to witness what is expected to be a festive homecoming. They will arrive here Wednesday.
Trainer Freddie Roach said the Philippines will win by a 5-1 count but declined to name his pick as the Filipino loser. Aldeguer mentioned the worst case scenario is 4-2 for the Philippines.
Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, who flew to Sacramento to boost the fighters? morale, told The STAR his forecast is 4-2 for the Philippines with Z Gorres and A. J. Banal as shoo-ins and Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista his sentimental favorite. Banal and Bautista are Lim?s Bohol provincemates.
The main event features the unbeaten Bautista versus WBO superbantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon in a 12-rounder. Also lined up is the WBO bantamweight title bout between defending champion Jhonny Gonzalez and San Carlos City?s Gerry Pe?alosa.
The four other fights are Gorres versus former WBC lightflyweight titlist Eric Ortiz for the IBF Intercontinental superflyweight crown in a 12-rounder, Banal versus Jorge Cardenas in a sixer, Sultan Kudarat?s Michael Domingo versus Miguel Roman in a sixer and Davao City?s Diosdado Gabi versus Jose Angel Beranza in an eight-rounder.
In the event of a tie, the team with more wins by knockout will be awarded the World Cup trophy. If a tie persists, a count-back of rounds won in each fight will determine the champion.
There were no major problems at the weigh-in in the Arden Fair Mall yesterday. De Leon, making his fifth title defense of the 122-pound title, tipped the scales at 121.6 pounds and Bautista, 121.4. Gonzalez checked in at 116.8 and Pe?alosa, 117.8. Gorres scaled 114.4 and Ortiz, 115. The bantamweight limit is 118 and the superflyweight ceiling is 115.
?Gorres and Banal are my favorites to win,? said Lim in an overseas phone call.
?Gabi is slightly ahead. Boom Boom is my sentimental favorite, the epitome of the young generation. Gerry had a little problem with his weight but still made it. Domingo is the heavy underdog. It?s a close call.?
Although Roman is tipped to win over Domingo, Aldeguer said he?s not discounting an upset.
?We know that Roman is Golden Boy?s baby,? said Aldeguer. ?In fact, they wanted an easier opponent but I insisted on giving Domingo a chance. Domingo?s a veteran who won?t back down from anybody. He couldn?t care less about Roman?s record. I?m not ruling out an upset.?
Roman boasts a 21-0 record, with 15 KOs, while Domingo, the Philippine champion, has a 31-14 mark, with 12 KOs.
Aldeguer said a suggestion to make the coming Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch the decider in case of a tie was rejected. ?The winner of the trophy will be decided there and then,? said Aldeguer. ?It?ll be either Mexico or the Philippines. We won?t wait until Oct. 6.?
Aldeguer said the boys? morale is sky-high. A Catholic Mass was scheduled at 10 a.m. in the Vagabond Inn, where the fighters are billeted, on the day of the fights.
